Photographic developer



Oct. 20, 1964 H. s. MILLER PHQTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPER 3 -Shae 1 Filed Dec. 9, 1960 H- G. MILLER PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPER Oct. 20, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 9, 1960 I m I I w n I K L 77/ I III/III I I III III/I1 Oct. 20, 1964 H. a. MILLER PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPER Filed Dec- 9, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent Filed Dec. 9, 1960, Ser. No. 74,838 3 Claims. (Cl. 95-905) This invention relates to a photographic film developing apparatus and more particularly to a developer which is adapted to develop and print photographic images from diffusion type fihn in one operation.

The ever increasing interest of the American people in the photographic arts as a hobby or for business purposes has placed great emphasis on production of ever simpler and cheaper photographic equipment. Emphasis has also been placed on the convenience of the photographer, as for example, in the use of the Polaroid Land camera which is capable of developing pictures in the camera as the film is exposed. However, such equipment is relatively expensive in the photographic equip ment field.

The developer of this invention is simple and is designed for use with any kind of camera. It is relatively inexpensive since it may be constructed of a disposable plastic material, and it is capable of developing diffusion type film and producing pictures immediately after com pletion of exposure of a roll of film.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a developer such as that-described above.

It is another object of this invention to provide a developer which is adapted to develop and print in one operation photographic images from diifusion type film.

It is another object of this invention to provide a developer adapted to develop and print photographic images in one operation from diffusion type film comprising, a substantially light proof container and a removable cover therefor, a film passing opening in the container, a developing fluid compartment in the container, means in the container for supporting at least a pair of film rolls capable of being developed through a diiiusion type process, each of the rolls having an extended leader, and means in the container associated with the developing fluid compartment for urging film strips from the film rolls into the developing fluid whereby the film strips, due to an external extracting force on the leaders may be drawn through the fluid, have their surfaces contact and be drawn through the opening to provide developed images.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a developer such as that described in the paragraph above wherein the developing fluid is contained in a reservoir which is designed to automatically fill the compartment on operation of the developer.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken together with the accompanying drawing.

Of the drawings:

FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 4 are perspective views showing the operation of the developer of this invention.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG URE 5 of a second embodiment of the developer.

FIGURE 8 is a partial sectional view 'taken along the line 88 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view slightly reduced in size of a removable shelf provided in the embodiment of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 10 is a vertical sectional view similar to 3,153,376 Patented Oct. 20, 1964 FIGURE 5 showing a third embodiment of the developer.

FIGURE 11 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIGURE 5 of a fourth embodiment of the developer with the cover open; and

FIGURE 12 is a vertical sectional view of the embodiment of FIGURE 11 with the cover closed.

Referring now'to the drawings, FIGURE 5 shows one embodiment of the developer 10 of this invention. The developer includes a container 11 which has a bottom wall 11a, side walls 11b, 11c, 11d and He, and a cover 12. The cover 12 is attached to the container 11 by means of the hinge 13 which is connected to the cover and container by rivets 14 in a conventional manner. The container 11 and cover 12 provide a substantially light proof member which has a film passing opening 15 defined between a lip 12a of the cover and the side wall 110.

Within the container 11 are two film supporting cradles 16 and 17 which are defined by a partition 25. The cradles 16 and 17 are separated by an upstanding portion 18 so that a roll of film may rest in each cradle. The strips of film or rolls are disposed upon spools 19 which substantially fit the curve of the cradles 16 and 17.

Forward of the film supporting cradles is a developing fluid compartment 20. The compartment 20 is defined by the forward portion of the bottom 11, the Wall 110, portions of the walls 11d and 11a and the vertically extending portion of the partition 25, to contain the necessary chemical solution for achieving development of the film. Within the compartment 20 when the cover 12 is in place is disposed a pair of film urging members or bars 21 and 22. The lower film urging member is attached near either end 21a to a pair of flat elongated members 23 and is spaced from the bottom of the compartment 20 by means of extending sections 23a. This defines a film passing opening under the member 21. The upper filmurging member or bar is attached to the cover by means of the supporting members 24 so that on closure of the cover, the upper bar 22 is spaced from the lower bar 21. The bar 22 has a plurality of passage 22a which allow developing fluid to pass there through.

The container is normally made of a lightweight plastic material and may be made disposable. However, of course, it is plain that the container can be constructed of materials other than plastic so long as they meet the necessary requirements for housing the chemicals required in developing.

a different.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in FIGURES 7, 8 and 9, it will be seen that a container 111 having an opening is provided similar to that shown in FIG- URE 5. However, the interior construction is slightly In this construction a triangular-shaped partition 26 divides the container into two compartments 27 and 28. The compartment 28 serves the same function of the developing fluid compartment 20 of FIGURE 5, and the compartment 27 serves to provide a location for the film rolls which are disposed vertically in this construction. The lower film roll 29a rests on the curved bottom 27a of the compartment 27. The upper film roll 29b rests in a removable cradle 30 which is shown separately in FIGURE 9. This cradle is supported on the side walls 11d and 11e of the container, by the lips 30a and is made removable so that the lower roll of film can be placed in the bottom of the compartment 27.

Film urging members 31 and 32 are provided in the compartment 28 when the cover 12 is closed. These members are substantially the same as the members 21 and 22 of FIGURE 5. The member 31 is attached to elongated members (not shown) similar to the members 23 and the film urging member or bar 32 is attached to the cover by members 33.

It will be noted that a flat portion 34 is defined by a second triangular-shaped member 35, andthat the film passes over this fiat member as it moves over the opening 115. A function of this construction and of similarconstructions in other embodiments will be explained in greater detail.

The embodiment shown in FIGURE 10 is also similar in container construction to that shown in both FIGURES and 7, having an opening 215 and wall such as 211. However, the interior construction is again slightly different but related to that shown in FIGURE 7. Thus, the interior of the container is divided into two compartments 127 and 128 by the inverted V-shaped partition 126. The compartment 127 supports the film rolls, and a removable cradle 130 similar-to that used in the embodiment of FIGURE 7 is provided. The film developing fluid is located in the compartment 128 in this embodiment, and a pair of rotatable members 36 and 37 are provided as film urging members. The lower member includes a cylinder 38 journaled for rotation on a rod 39, the ends of which are supported in the side wall 211d and the opposite wall (not shown). The upper member 37 likewise includes a cylinder 38 which is journaled on a rod 39. However, the rod is supported at its ends by the members 40 which are attached to the cover 212. The position of the upper member 37 in the container when the cover is closed is shown in dotted lines.

A second pair of rotatable members 41 and 42 similar vin construction to the members 37 and 38 is provided adjacent the opening 15. The lower member 41 is supported by the same walls as the member 36, whereas the upper member is supported by the skirt 212a and the opposite skirt (not shown) of the cover 212.

Yet another embodiment is shown in FIGURES 11 and 12. This embodiment also includes a container 312 similar to that shown in FIGURE 5 having an opening 315. However, the Walls such as 311b and 311a of the container are somewhat shorter. The interior of the con tainer is divided into a pair of film supporting portions 116 and 117 by means of a partition 125. The forward roll of film 119a actually rests in the compartment 116, whereas, the rear roll of film 11% which is positioned in the cradle 117 when the cover 312 is closed is actually supported by a pair of members 43. The members 43 are riveted at 43a to the cover 312 and are made of a springy material such as springy plastic so that they may be spread apart slightly to receive a roll of film therebetween as is conventional in common cameras.

The partition 125 also defines a compartment 120 for film developing fluid. Within this compartment is located a pair of rollers 136 and 137 similar to the rollers 36 and 37 in the embodiment of FIGURE 10, and supported by the container walls in the same fashion. A second pair of rollers 141 and 142 located adjacent the opening 115 perform the same function as the comparable rolls 41 and 42 in FIGURE 10.

A film developing fluid storage reservoir or compartment 45 is provided on the underside of the cover 12. A filling opening 47 which may be plugged 48 is provided in the cover 312 over the container 45. This compartment is constructed of a material which is soft enough to be penetrated. On each of the side walls 11d and He is provided a sharp piercing member 46. This member 46 is located above the upper roller 137. The construction is designed so that when the cover 12 is placed in the closed position, the sharp member 46 will pierce the container 45 thus allowing the developing fluid to run into the compartment 120 for operation of the developer.

As previously mentioned, the film which is adapted to be developed by the developer of this invention is that of the diffusion type. A diffusion type film is customarily defined as one that can produce a photographic image through the use of a silver halide layer which produces a reversed image on an inert material, for example, a material which is not sensitive to light, provided the silver halide layer, after being exposed to light for the production of a master image and then being impregnated with a developer to develop the image, is pressed or squeezed, in the presence of a fogging agent and a silver halide solvent onto an inert printing material while the layer is still imbibed with the developing fluid. If this is done that part of the silver halide in the layer which has not reduced during the exposure to light and which in the ordinary photographic process would be fixed out in the fixing bath will adhere to the reception material and will enter this material by diffusion and will produce thereon a reversed image. In order to render this image freely visible, the light sensitive layer containing the master image is removed from the reception material. Fogging agents are substances capable of promoting the reduction of silver halides without requiring the action of light. Examples of these substances are colloidal silver, colloidal forms of sulphur, silver sulphide, hypophosphites, stannous chloride and organic sulphur compounds such as thiosinamine. As silver halide solvents, the following may be used: sodium sulphate, sodium thiosulphate and the like.

Generally, the film which is exposed in the camera may be either a photosensitive film in a photosensitive paper both of which contain the silver halide layer. The

reception material is produced so that the fogging agent iscast on the surface thereof by means of a gelatin solution or the like. Passage of the exposed film and the reception material through a developer thereafter bringing the two strips into contact will cause a reaction to take place and the image will appear on the reception materiaL.

Thus it is that the two rolls of film material are used in the developer of this invention, one roll being the exposed roll having the silver halide material and the other roll being the reception material containing the fogging agent. Other films of this general type with numerous variations and make-up are well known in the photographic trade. All of these films, of course, are usable in the developer of this invention. It being only necessary that the diffusion type transfer take place.

In FIGURES 1 through 4, the operation of the developer can be seen. The developer shown in these views, is the embodiment of FIGURE 5. In FIGURE 1, one roll of film 50 is in place in its cradle 16. This is the reception material. It will also be noticed that the roll of film 50 has an elongated leader 50a which bears an indication at 50b as to the proper location of the film. It can also be seen that the lower member 21 is being held in the operators hands prior to its insertion.

FIGURE 2 shows a second roll of film 51 in place, this being the exposed roll containing the silver halide layer. This roll also has an extended leader 51a. As can be seen, the cover 12 is about to be closed placing the upper member 22 in place so that the strips of the film 19a and 19d, respectively, pass under the members 21 and 22 as shown in FIGURE 5. Of course, the developing fluid is already in place in the compartment'20.

In FIGURE 3, item be seen that the operator is withdrawing the strips of film from the container through the opening 15. In FIGURE 4, the operator is peeling apart the strips of film and it can be seen that the pictures or images have been transferred to the reception material and are completely developed.

As the film strips 50 and 51 emerge from the developing fluid, they are forced into contact by their passage through the opening 15. Furthermore, since the film strips are traveling in a direction at an angle to the opening 15, they must turn about the upper edge of the wall 110 on passage through the opening. This creates a squeegee effect on the film and removes excess developing fluid. Referring to the embodiments of FIGURES 7, 10 and 12, this same operation results due to the flat surface 34 in the embodiment of FIGURE 7 which provides the squeegee effect and the contact necessary for development because of its angled position with respect to the direction of travel of the film. So also do the rollareasre URES 11 and 12. Thus in each instance the film strips are forced together and are squeezed to remove excess developing fluid.

Operation of the other embodiments shown is substantially the same as that given for the embodiment of FIGURE 5. In FIGURE 7, the film rolls 29 and 291') are vertically located. However, insertion .of the other parts and the function of the developer is substantially the same. The same may be said of the embodiments of FIGURES and 11.

Color film may also be easily developed by the developing apparatus of this invention. In order to accommodate such film it is only necessary to provide additional developing fluid compartments such as 20 shown in FIGURE 5. In each of the additional compartments, film urging members or bars such as 21 and 22 in F1"- URE 5 are also provided. Such additional compartments are necessary since additional developing baths are necessary for color film.

Having thus described my invention as related to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, it is my invention that the invention be not limited by any of the details of description unless otherwise specified, but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as set out in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. An inexpensive manually operated, completely selfcontained developer adapted to develop film and print photographic images therefrom using diffusion type film all in one operation, comprising: a substantially lightproof container including a bottom wall, side walls and a removable cover, said cover and one of said side walls defining a film passing opening; a developing fluid compartment in said container; a pair of film rolls supporting cradles disposed in said container on a side of said fluid container remote from said opening; said film being capable of being developed through a diffusion type process and each of said rolls having an extended leader; a pair of substantially vertically disposed, horizontally extending bars positioned in said compartment; each adapted to urge a strip of film from one of said rolls into a developing fluid when said removable cover is placed thereover so that no light may exist inside said container during operation of said developer; a film strip contacting surface in said container on the opposite side of said compartment from said cradles, said contacting surface comprising a plurality of rotatable rollers positioned at an angle at the passage of said film strips so that said film strips are brought into contact after their emergence from the fluid and said film strips due to an external extracting force on said leaders may be drawn from said fluid and said opening to provide developed images.

2. An inexpensive manually operated, completely selfcontained developer adapted to develop film and print photographic images therefrom using diffusion type film all in one operation, comprising: a substantially lightproof container including a bottom wall, side walls and a removable cover, said cover and one of said side walls defining a film passing opening; a developing fluid compartment in said container; a pair of film rolls supporting cradles disposed in said container on a side of said fluid container remote from said opening, said film being capable of being developed through a dilfusion'type process and each of said rolls having an extended leader; a pair of substantially vertically disposed, substantially horizontally extending rollers positioned in said compartment; each adapted to urge a strip of film from one of said rollers into a developing fluid when said removable cover is placed thereover so that no light may exist inside said container during operation of said developer; a film strip contacting surface in said container on the opposite side of said compartment from said cradles, said contacting surface comprising a plurality of rotatable rollers positioned at an angle to the passage of said film strips so that said film strips are brought into contact after their emergence from the fluid and said film strips due to an external extracting force on said leaders may be drawn from said fluid and said opening to provide developed images.

3. An inexpensive manually operated, completely selfcontained developer adapted to develop film and print photographic images therefrom using diffusion type film all in one operation, comprising: a substantially lightproof container including a bottom wall, side walls and a removable cover, said cover and one of said side walls defining a film passing opening; a developing fluid compartment in said container; a pair of film rolls supporting cradles disposed in said container on a side of said .fiuid container remote from said opening, said film being capa ble of being developed through a diffusion type process and each of said rolls having an extended leader; a pair of substantially vertically disposed, substantially horizontally extending rollers positioned in said compartment; each adapted to urge a strip of film from one of said rollers into a developing fluid when said removable cover is placed thereover so that no light may exist inside said container during operation of said developer; a film strip contacting surface in said container on the opposite side of said compartment from said cradles, said contacting surface comprising a plurality of arcuate surfaces positioned at an angle to the passage of said film strips so that said film strips are brought into contact after their emergence from the fluid and said film strips due to an external extracting force on said leaders may be drawn from said fiuid and said opening to provide developed images.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,178,278 Uhl Apr. 4, 1916 1,808,585 Wasylenko June 2, 1931 2,657,618 Eisbein Nov. 3, 1953 2,732,778 Limberger Jan. 31, 1956 2,887,030 Eloranta May 19, 1959 2,971,445 Orlando Feb. 14, 1961 2,989,914 Reick June 27, 1961 

1. AN INEXPENSIVE MANUALLY OPERATED, COMPLETELY SELFCONTAINED DEVELOPER ADAPTED TO DEVELOP FILM AND PRINT PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES THEREFROM USING DIFFUSION TYPE FILM ALL IN ONE OPERATION, COMPRISING: A SUBSTANTIALLY LIGHTPROOF CONTAINER INCLUDING A BOTTOM WALL, SIDE WALLS AND A REMOVABLE COVER, SAID COVER AND ONE OF SAID SIDE WALLS DEFINING A FILM PASSING OPENING; A DEVELOPING FLUID COMPARTMENT IN SAID CONTAINER; A PAIR OF FILM ROLLS SUPPORTING CRADLES DISPOSED IN SAID CONTAINER ON A SIDE OF SAID FLUID CONTAINER REMOTE FROM SAID OPENING; SAID FILM BEING CAPABLE OF BEING DEVELOPED THROUGH A DIFFUSION TYPE PROCESS AND EACH OF SAID ROLLS HAVING AN EXTENDED LEADER; A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY DISPOSED, HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING BARS POSITIONED IN SAID COMPARTMENT; EACH ADAPTED TO URGE A STRIP OF FILM FROM ONE OF SAID ROLLS INTO A DEVELOPING FLUID WHEN SAID REMOVABLE COVER IS PLACED THEREOVER SO THAT NO LIGHT MAY EXIST INSIDE SAID CONTAINER DURING OPERATION OF SAID DEVELOPER; A FILM STRIP CONTACTING SURFACE IN SAID CONTAINER ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID COMPARTMENT FROM SAID CRADLES, SAID CONTACTING SURFACE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF ROTATABLE ROLLERS POSITIONED AT AN ANGLE AT THE PASSAGE OF SAID FILM STRIPS SO THAT SAID FILM STRIPS ARE BROUGHT INOT CONTACT AFTER THEIR EMERGENCE FROM THE FLUID AND SAID FILM STRIPS DUE TO AN EXTERNAL EXTRACTING FORCE ON SAID LEADERS MAY BE DRAWN FROM SAID FLUID AND SAID OPENING TO PROVIDE DEVELOPED IMAGES. 